U.S. patent application number 10/657253 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-15 for heat exchange system and rotor having the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO SHO. Invention is credited to Murakami, Masao, Naoi, Masaki, Sawa, Masahiko, Yamada, Norifumi.
Application Number | 20050276157 10/657253 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31944553 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050276157 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murakami, Masao ; et
al. |
December 15, 2005 |
Heat exchange system and rotor having the same
Abstract
A heat exchange system includes a rotor, a hole, a main tube,
and branch tubes. The rotor, the outer surface of which is in
contact with a kneaded object, has a heat-exchange chamber therein,
in which a heat medium flows. The hole having a diameter less than
that of the heat-exchange chamber is formed on one end of the
rotor. The main tube is insertable through the hole and
communicates with the heat-exchange chamber. Its diameter is
determined such that a given space is ensured between the hole and
the main tube. Each branch tube extends from the periphery of the
main tube towards the surface of the heat-exchange chamber and has
an opening on its top end, through which the main tube communicates
with the heat-exchange chamber. The branch tubes are flexible to
pass through the space when the main tube is inserted or
removed.
Inventors: |
Murakami, Masao;
(Takasago-shi, JP) ; Yamada, Norifumi;
(Takasago-shi, JP) ; Naoi, Masaki; (Takasago-shi,
JP) ; Sawa, Masahiko; (Takasago-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOBE SEIKO
SHO
Kobe-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
31944553 |
Appl. No.: |
10/657253 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
366/147 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01F 15/068 20130101;
A21C 1/065 20130101; B01F 7/00425 20130101; B01F 7/043 20130101;
A21C 1/1495 20130101; F28D 11/02 20130101; B29B 7/186 20130101;
B29B 7/183 20130101; B29B 7/826 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
366/147 |
International
Class: |
B01F 015/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 18, 2002 |
JP |
2002-271560 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A heat exchange system comprising: a body having an outer
surface in contact with a heat-exchange object; a heat-exchange
chamber in said body, a heat transfer medium flowing in said
heat-exchange chamber; an inlet formed on at least one end of said
body with a diameter less than that of said heat-exchange chamber;
a main tube, the heat transfer medium flowing in or flowing out of
said main tube, said main tube being insertably disposed in said
heat-exchange chamber through said inlet and having a predetermined
diameter so that a given space is ensured between said inlet and
said main tube; and branch tubes mounted on the outer surface of
said main tube, each of said branch tubes having an opening on the
top through which said main tube communicates with said
heat-exchange chamber, said branch tubes being flexible, thereby
being capable of passing through the space when said main tube is
inserted or removed.
2. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein said
branch tubes extend towards the surface of said heat-exchange
chamber.
3. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein each of
said branch tubes has a nozzle on the opening.
4. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein each of
said branch tubes comprises a coiled spring whose turns are in
close contact with each other in a free state.
5. The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein each of
said branch tubes comprises a tube having flexibility and leaktight
to a fluid, and a coiled spring wound around the tube to support
the tube.
6. A kneading or extruding rotor including the heat exchange system
according to claim 1, wherein said heat-exchange chamber has a
non-circular cross-section and is twisted along the axis of said
heat-exchange chamber.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a heat exchange system for
cooling or heating an object subjected to heat exchange
(hereinafter referred to as heat-exchange object) in contact with
an outer surface of a body by passing a heat transfer medium
through a heat-exchange chamber in the body, and a rotor having the
same.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In manufacturing equipment for kneading, coating or a
rolling process, rotors or rollers having a heat exchange system
are commonly used to maintain temperatures of raw materials or
fabricated materials in a predetermined range by heating or
cooling.
[0005] This conventional heat exchange system, as typically shown
in a bored roll, has a large heat-exchange chamber in a body of a
roller or a rotor. A supply pipe communicates with the
heat-exchange chamber. A heat transfer medium, such as cooling
water, is fed into the heat-exchange chamber from one end of the
body through the supply pipe and discharged at the same end, as is
disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
5-104262 (shown in FIG. 1 of disclosed document). Alternatively, as
typically shown in a drilled roll, a plurality of flow channels are
formed along an outer surface of the body from one end to the other
end and the heat transfer medium flows through the channels, as is
disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
9-277145 (shown in FIG. 1 of disclosed document). Additionally, the
body, which is composed of a plurality of components, and a flow
channel of the heat transfer medium are formed in one operation, as
is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No. 5-261725 (shown in FIG. 3 of disclosed document).
[0006] In bored roll methods, generating high uniform heat exchange
capability over the whole body requires the heat transfer medium
with a predetermined temperature to flow rapidly and turbulently
near a wall of the heat-exchange chamber in the body; however, it
is difficult to enable the heat transfer medium to flow at
sufficient velocity since the heat transfer medium flows from the
supply pipe having a small flow cross-sectional area to the
heat-exchange chamber in the body having a large flow
cross-sectional area. In addition, the flow of the heat transfer
medium from one end to the other end of the body generally causes a
big difference between temperatures on the upstream side and on the
downstream side. As a result, the total heat exchange capability is
disadvantageously lowered and the heat exchange capability along an
axis of the body is not uniform.
[0007] Alternatively, a plurality of ports are formed on an outer
periphery of the supply pipe and jet streams of the heat transfer
medium are discharged to an inner surface of the heat-exchange
chamber. In this case, a long distance between the supply pipe and
the inner surface of the heat-exchange chamber significantly
reduces the flow velocity of the heat transfer medium at the inner
surface due to flow resistance.
[0008] On the other hand, in drilled roll methods, the formation of
a flow channel having a small flow cross-sectional area along the
outer surface of the body allows the heat transfer medium to flow
rapidly through the flow channel. However, the flow of the heat
transfer medium from one end to the other end of the body
disadvantageously causes the heat exchange capability along the
axis of the body to be non-uniform due to a big difference between
the temperatures on the upstream side and on the downstream side.
Further, this method requires a drilling process for forming the
flow channel along the outer surface of the body, resulting in high
manufacturing cost. Also, this method cannot be applied to a
complicated-shaped body.
[0009] Forming the body from a plurality of components allows for a
formation of desired flow channels even if the body has a
complicated-shaped outer surface; however, a large number of body
components and complexity of the structure increase time and cost
for manufacturing the body. In addition, the flow of the heat
transfer medium from one end to the other end of the heat-exchange
chamber having a large flow cross-sectional area may
disadvantageously cause the total heat exchange capability to be
lowered and the heat exchange capability along the axis of the body
to be non-uniform.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a heat exchange system and a rotor having the same for
increasing the total heat exchange capability with uniform heat
exchange capability along an axis of the body, and also a heat
exchange system and a rotor which can be manufactured in a short
period of time and at low cost.
[0011] According to the present invention, the heat exchange system
includes a body, an inlet, a main tube, and branch tubes. The body,
the outer surface of which is in contact with a heat-exchange
object, has a heat-exchange chamber therein, in which a heat
transfer medium flows. The inlet, which is formed on at least one
end of the body, has a diameter less than that of the heat-exchange
chamber. The main tube has a predetermined diameter so that a given
space is ensured between the inlet and the main tube. The main tube
is insertably disposed in the heat-exchange chamber through the
inlet and communicates with the heat-exchange chamber. The heat
transfer medium is fed or discharged through the main tube. The
branch tubes extend from the periphery of the main tube and each of
the branch tubes has an opening on the top end, through which the
main tube communicates with the heat-exchange chamber. The branch
tubes are flexible so that they can pass through the space
described above when the main tube is inserted or removed.
[0012] According to the structure described above, since the main
tube and the branch tubes prevent the heat transfer medium from
contacting with a heat transfer medium inside the heat-exchange
chamber, the heat transfer medium having almost the same
temperature is ejected from each opening of the branch tube. Each
of the branch tubes extends from the periphery of the main tube so
that the opening of the branch tube is closer to the surface of the
heat-exchange chamber than to the periphery of the main tube. As a
result, the heat transfer medium in the heat-exchange chamber
resists the flow of the heat transfer medium ejected from the
branch tube in such a short distance that the heat transfer medium
hits against the surface of the heat-exchange chamber at a high
flow velocity. Accordingly, the heat transfer medium with axially
uniform temperature distribution flows near the surface of the
heat-exchange chamber rapidly and turbulently. This produces a high
uniform heat exchange capability over the whole body.
[0013] Further, the branch tubes are formed such that they can pass
through the space between an inlet and the main tube. In addition,
the branch tubes are flexible. Accordingly, the branch tubes can be
oriented towards the surface of the heat-exchange chamber by just
inserting the main tube into the heat-exchange chamber through the
inlet even if the heat-exchange chamber has a complicated-shaped
surface. The branch tubes can be removed from the system with the
main tube by just removing the main tube through the inlet. The
ease of inserting or removing the main tube and the branch tubes
provides the heat exchange system with excellent cooling capability
described above in a simple way and at low cost.
[0014] Preferably, in this heat exchange system, branch tubes
extend towards the surface of the heat-exchange chamber. This
provides higher heat exchange capability, because the opening of
the branch tube is in the vicinity of the surface of the
heat-exchange chamber.
[0015] Preferably, in this heat exchange system, a nozzle is
provided on the opening of each branch tube. As a result, the
direction of the flow of the heat transfer medium can be
corrected.
[0016] Preferably, in this heat exchange system, the branch tubes
may be coiled springs whose turns are in close contact with each
other in a free state. As a result, the branch tubes can be
obtained in a simple way and at low cost.
[0017] Preferably, in this heat exchange system, the branch tubes
are composed of tubes having flexibility and leaktight to a fluid,
and coiled springs are wound around the tubes to support the tubes.
As a result, the heat transfer medium can be ejected from the
branch tubes more efficiently.
[0018] Preferably, a kneading or extruding rotor includes the heat
exchange system that has a heat-exchange chamber having a
non-circular cross-section which is twisted along the axis of the
heat-exchange chamber. Accordingly, a rotor having the heat
exchange system can be obtained in a simple way and at low
cost.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevation view of a rotor having
a heat exchange system according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the rotor;
[0021] FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a heat-transfer-medium
supply pipe being attached to the rotor;
[0022] FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the flow of a heat
transfer medium in a heat-exchange chamber;
[0023] FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a setting of the
branch tube;
[0024] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing another setting of the
branch tube;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of an essential part of the
branch tube with a nozzle;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of an essential part of the
branch tube with another nozzle;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of a branch tube; and
[0028] FIG. 10 is a two-part fragmentary sectional view of the
rotor having the heat exchange system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described
with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. As shown in FIG. 1, a heat
exchange system according to the present invention is included in,
for example, a pair of rotors 1 of a bi-axial kneader (only one
rotor 1 is shown in FIG. 1). Each rotor 1 is rotatable in a casing
2 of the kneader. A pipe (not shown) is attached to the outer
surface of the casing 2 through which a kneaded object is cooled or
heated. The casing 2 includes a kneading chamber 3 containing the
kneaded object. The kneading chamber 3 is cocoon-shaped in
longitudinal section in order to accommodate the pair of rotors
1.
[0030] The rotors 1 are disposed such that their axes are parallel
to each other, and rotate in opposite directions by a drive unit
(not shown). Both rotors 1 have the same shape and have long blades
7 and short blades 8, which will be described hereinafter.
Arrangements of the long blades 7 and the short blades 8 on the
rotors 1 are axially opposite to each other.
[0031] Each rotor 1, which is disposed in the kneading chamber 3,
has a kneading portion 1a, in contact with the kneaded object, and
rotor holders 1b and 1c at both longitudinal ends of the kneading
portion 1a. As shown in FIG. 2, the kneading portion 1a has the two
long blades 7, which are disposed at a circumferential interval of
180 degrees and axially extend; and the two short blades 8 disposed
in the same manner so that the kneading portion 1a is elliptical in
longitudinal section, which is perpendicular to the axis. Each long
blade 7 spirals clockwise from one end (the right in the drawing)
to a point adjacent to the other end (the left in the drawing) of
the kneading chamber 3. On the other hand, each short blade 8
spirals counterclockwise from the above mentioned point to the
other end of the kneading chamber 3. Thus, the long blade 7 and the
short blade 8 function as a feeder blade and a return blade,
respectively, during a kneading operation. Spiral angles of the
long blade 7 and the short blade 8 range from 30 degrees to 60
degrees. At least one of the spiral angle and the spiral direction
may be changed continuously or discontinuously.
[0032] The kneading portion 1a, as described above, has a
heat-exchange chamber 11 therein, in which a heat transfer medium
flows. The heat transfer medium, for example, is cooling/heating
water, hot oil, or steam. The heat-exchange chamber 11 includes a
long-blade space 11a and a short-blade space 11b which corresponds
to the spaces for the long blade 7 and the short blade 8,
respectively. In order to follow the shape of the outer surface of
the long blade 7, the long-blade space 11a is elliptical in
longitudinal section, and each edge of the long-blade space 11a is
in the same direction as that of the long blade 7. The long-blade
space 11a spirals clockwise from one end to a point adjacent to the
other end of kneading portion 1a. On the other hand, in order to
follow the shape of the outer surface of the short blade 8, the
short-blade space 11b is elliptical in longitudinal section and
each edge of the short-blade space 11b is in the same direction as
that of the short blade 8. The short-blade space 11b spirals
counterclockwise from the above mentioned point to the other end of
the kneading portion 1a.
[0033] Rotor holders 1b and 1c are coaxially formed on both top
portions of the kneading portion 1a, respectively. The shape of the
rotor holders 1b and 1c is a circular cylinder. The rotor holders
1b and 1c are surrounded by bearings 4. The bearings 4 are fitted
on one side and the other side of the casing 2 to rotatably support
the rotor 1 in the casing 2.
[0034] The rotor holders 1b and 1c have holes 12a and 12b
respectively. The hole 12a of the rotor holder 1b extends from one
end to the other end of the rotor holder 1b along its axis, while
the hole 12b of the rotor holder 1c extends from one end adjacent
to the kneading portion 1a to a point near the other end so that
the other end of the rotor holder 1b, which is opposite to the
kneading portion 1a, is sealed. Thus, the holes 12a, 12b, and the
heat-exchange chamber 11 are aligned along the rotation axis of the
rotor 1 to form the rotor 1.
[0035] The holes 12a and 12b are circular in longitudinal section.
The holes 12a and 12b have diameters less than the maximum diameter
of the heat-exchange chamber 11. For example, a diameter of the
long axis of the heat-exchange chamber 11 is 3 times the diameter
of the holes 12a and 12b, a diameter of the short axis is the same
as the diameter of the holes 12a and 12b, and a length of the
heat-exchange chamber 11 in transverse section is about 6 times the
diameter of the holes 12a and 12b.
[0036] The hole 12a of the rotor holder 1b functions as an inlet
for inserting or removing a heat-transfer-medium supply pipe 20,
and as a feeding-and-discharging path for the heat transfer medium.
The heat-transfer-medium supply pipe 20 includes a main tube 21,
which is insertable into and removable from the heat-exchange
chamber 11 through the hole 12a, and branch tubes 22, which are
described below. An external diameter of the main tube 21 is
determined such that a given space is ensured between the main tube
21 and the hole 12a. For example, the external diameter of the main
tube 21 is 0.4 times the diameter of the hole 12a. Thus, the rotor
holder 1b has a double-pipe structure, which has an outer flow path
23 of the heat transfer medium that communicates with the
heat-exchange chamber 11 and an inner flow path 24 of the heat
transfer medium that is blocked from the heat-exchange chamber
11.
[0037] The main tube 21 rotates at the same rotational velocity as
the rotor 1. The main tube 21 may be driven via a spacer provided
in the hole 12a of the rotor holder 1b, or by connecting the main
tube 21 to a drive unit of the rotor 1 directly.
[0038] Further, the main tube 21 has a front end 21a which is
sealed, a back end 21b which is open, and a body section 21c which
resides between the front end 21a and the back end 21b. The front
end 21a of the main tube 21 is disposed in the hole 12b of the
rotor holder 1c, while the back end 21b of the main tube 21
protrudes from the system. A heat-transfer-medium feeding and
discharging means is attached to both the back end 21b of the main
tube 21 and one end of the rotor holders 1b via a rotary joint (not
shown). The heat-transfer-medium feeding and discharging means,
which has a pipe and a pump, feeds the heat transfer medium to the
inner flow path 24 in the main tube 21 and discharges the heat
transfer medium from the outer flow path 23, which is outside the
main tube 21. Reversely, the heat-transfer-medium feeding and
discharging means may discharges the heat transfer medium from the
inner flow path 24 and may feeds it into the outer flow path
23.
[0039] The body section 21c of the main tube 21 includes a
plurality of branch tubes 22. When the main tube 21 is inserted or
removed, each branch tube 22 can pass through the outer flow path
23, which is the space between the main tube 21 and the periphery
of the hole 12a. In addition, each branch tube 22 is flexible so
that it is pushed sideways while passing through the outer flow
path 23 and rises upwards after passing through. An anchor end of
each branch tube 22 is attached to the body section 21c by
caulking, welding, or the like so that each branch tube 22 extends
perpendicularly on the surface of the body section 21c towards the
surface of the heat-exchange chamber 11.
[0040] In this embodiment, each branch tube 22 is composed of a
coiled spring whose turns are in close contact with each other in a
free state to be flexible. For example, the external diameter of
the branch tube 22 is about 0.12 times the diameter of the hole 12a
so that each branch tube 22 can pass through the outer flow path
23. The branch tubes 22 are disposed in the long-blade space 11a
and the short-blade space 11b. In the long-blade space 11a, six
pairs of the branch tubes 22, twelve tubes in total, are disposed
such that two tubes of each pair are at a circumferential interval
of 180 degrees around a periphery of the body section 21c. Each
pair is spirally arranged such that the free top end of the branch
tube 22 faces the edges of the long-blade space 11a. Also, two of
the branch tubes 22 are at a circumferential interval of 180
degrees around a periphery of the body section 21c in the
short-blade space 11b. The top end of each tube faces the edges of
the short-blade space 11b. More than two branch tubes 22 may be
disposed in the short-blade space 11b.
[0041] The length of each branch tube 22 is determined such that
the top end thereof is adjacent to the surface of the edges of the
long-blade space 11a and the short-blade space 11b. For example,
the length of the branch tube 22 is about 1.3 times the diameter of
the hole 12a. An opening 22a is formed at the top end of each
branch tube 22. The main tube 21 communicates with the
heat-exchange chamber 11 through the branch tube 22 by the opening
22a. Thus, the branch tube 22 allows the heat transfer medium to be
ejected from a position adjacent to the edges of the long-blade
space 11a and the short-blade space 11b, after the heat transfer
medium in the main tube 21 is moved to the opening 22a without a
decrease in flow velocity due to flow resistance of a heat transfer
medium in the heat-exchange chamber 11.
[0042] The total number of the branch tubes 22 is determined such
that the total flow cross-sectional area of the openings 22a of the
branch tubes 22 is less than or equal to that of the main tube 21
in order to produce a jet stream of the heat transfer medium. For
example, the inner diameter of the branch tube 22 is about 0.08
times the diameter of the hole 12a. The total flow cross-sectional
area of the branch tubes 22 is preferably less than or equal to a
half of the flow cross-sectional area of the main tube 21 to
produce a uniform jet stream from each branch tube 22.
[0043] According to the embodiment of the present invention, a
method for manufacturing the rotor 1 and a kneader having the heat
exchange system will now be described.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, a pipe, which has given outer and inner
diameters, is cut into a given length, and its top end is sealed.
Then, holes are drilled on a surface of the pipe at certain
positions that face the edges of the long-blade space 11a and the
short-blade space 11b of the heat-exchange chamber 11. This pipe
becomes the main tube 21. Coiled springs whose turns are in close
contact with each other in a free state are prepared as the branch
tubes 22. They are perpendicularly inserted into the holes and are
welded. As a result, the heat-transfer-medium supply pipe 20, which
consists of the main tube 21 and the branch tubes 22, is
formed.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the rotor 1 formed by casting or the
like is mounted in the casing 2 via bearings 4. As shown in FIG. 3,
the heat-transfer-medium supply pipe 20 disposed outside the rotor
holder 1b of the rotor 1 is moved towards the rotor 1 (shown by the
arrow in the drawing) with the rotor 1 and the main tube 21
coaxially aligned. Thus, the heat-transfer-medium supply pipe 20 is
inserted into the heat-exchange chamber 11 since the hole 12a of
the rotor holder 1b functions as an insertion/removal opening of
the heat-transfer-medium supply pipe 20.
[0046] While the heat-transfer-medium supply pipe 20 is inserted,
the branch tube 22 which stands perpendicularly on the body section
21c of the main tube 21 is put into contact with the end face of
the rotor holder 1b. Accordingly, the rotor holder 1b pushes the
branch tube 22. The branch tube 22 is composed of a coiled spring
having flexibility. Therefore, the branch tube 22 is pushed
sideways by the pushing force and moves through the hole 12a with
the main tube 21 while following the surface of the hole 12a. The
branch tube 22 rises upwards after it enters the heat-exchange
chamber 11 due to the flexibility.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, the positions of the rotor 1 and the
heat-transfer-medium supply pipe 20 are adjusted so that the
openings 22a of the branch tubes 22 face the edges of the
long-blade space 11a and the short-blade space 11b of the
heat-exchange chamber 11, and then the heat-transfer-medium supply
pipe 20 is secured to the rotor 1. A rotary joint (not shown) is
mounted on the end portions of the main tube 21 and the rotor
holder 1b through which the heat-transfer-medium supply pipe 20 is
connected to a pipe or the like of a heat-transfer-medium feeding
and discharging means to form a kneader.
[0048] When inspecting or repairing the heat-transfer-medium supply
pipe 20, the main tube 21 is removed from the heat-exchange chamber
11 through the hole 12a in the reverse procedure described above.
Thus, the heat-transfer-medium supply pipe 20 is removed from the
system.
[0049] An operation of the rotor 1 having the heat exchange system
according to this embodiment and the kneader will now be described.
In this embodiment, cooling water is used as the heat transfer
medium. However, the heat transfer medium is not limited to cooling
water. A heat transfer medium such as hot water or steam may be
supplied to flow in a cooling pipe depending on a composition or a
type of a kneaded material to be heated.
[0050] An inlet (not shown), which is disposed in the casing 2, is
opened. The kneaded materials, such as rubbers or plastics, and
fillers are loaded from the inlet to the kneading chamber 3. After
the kneading chamber 3 is sealed, cooling water is supplied in a
pipe, which is in contact with the outer surface of the casing 2,
to cool the materials in the kneading chamber 3 via the casing
2.
[0051] Additionally, cooling water is fed to the main tube 21 from
a heat-transfer-medium feeding and discharging means (not shown).
The cooling water flows into the branch tube 22 mounted on the body
section 21c of the main tube 21 after it flows through the main
tube 21. The cooling water is ejected from the opening 22a formed
on the top end of the branch tube 22 to the edges of the long-blade
space 11a and the short-blade space 11b of the heat-exchange
chamber 11.
[0052] The cooling water does not flow into the branch tube 22
through a side wall thereof, since the branch tube 22 is composed
of a coiled spring whose turns are in close contact with each other
in a free state. As a result, the cooling water in the branch tube
22 does not have any flow resistance except for flow resistance by
the wall of the branch tube 22. Thus, the cooling water is ejected
from the opening 22a at a high flow velocity.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 5, the branch tube 22 in the heat-exchange
chamber 11 extends substantially perpendicularly by its rigidity so
that the opening 22a is adjacent to the edge of the heat-exchange
chamber 11. Accordingly, a short distance between the opening 22a
and the edge of the heat-exchange chamber 11 suppresses a decrease
in flow velocity due to flow resistance even if the cooling water
in the heat-exchange chamber 11 has high flow resistance. As a
result, the cooling water ejected from the opening 22a at a high
flow velocity slightly loses the flow velocity and hits against the
adjacent edge of the heat-exchange chamber 11. The cooling water
flows along the inner surface of the long blade 7 and the short
blade 8. That is, the cooling water flows near the surface of the
heat-exchange chamber 11 rapidly and turbulently. This provides a
high cooling capability, namely, a high heat exchange capability to
the whole rotor 1.
[0054] Further, the cooling water ejected from each branch tube 22
has almost the same temperature since the main tube 21 and the
branch tube 22 prevent the cooling water from contacting with the
cooling water inside the heat-exchange chamber 11 while functioning
as a heat insulator. This flow of the cooling water with almost the
same temperature along the axis of the rotor 1 allows for uniform
provision of the above-described high cooling capability over the
whole rotor 1. As shown in FIG. 1, after the rotor 1 is cooled in
the above-described manner, it is rotated with the loaded materials
sheared and mixed in the kneading chamber 3 to produce a resulting
kneaded object with desired kneading conditions. In this case, the
kneaded materials are heat-exchange objects. Uniform and sufficient
cooling of the objects by the rotor 1 and the casing 2 obviates
disadvantages such as deterioration of the objects by
overheating.
[0055] As previously explained, the heat exchange system according
to an embodiment of the present invention includes the rotor 1 (a
body), the hole 12a, the main tube 21, and the branch tubes 22. The
rotor 1, the outer surface of which is in contact with a kneaded
object (heat-exchange object), has the heat-exchange chamber 11
therein, in which a heat transfer medium such as water flows. The
hole 12a (an inlet), which is formed on one end of the rotor 1, has
a diameter less than that of the heat-exchange chamber 11.
[0056] The main tube 21 has a predetermined diameter so that a
given space is ensured between the hole 12a and the main tube 21.
The main tube 21 is insertably disposed in the heat-exchange
chamber 11 through the hole 12a and communicates with the
heat-exchange chamber 11. The heat transfer medium is fed or
discharged through the main tube 21. The branch tubes 22 extend
from the periphery of the main tube 21 towards the surface of the
heat-exchange chamber 11 and each of the branch tubes 22 has the
opening 22a on the top end, through which the main tube 21
communicates with the heat-exchange chamber 11. The branch tubes 22
are flexible so that they can pass through the space described
above when the main tube 21 is inserted or removed. The hole 12a
according to this embodiment, which is the inlet, may be formed on
both end surfaces of the rotor 1.
[0057] According to the structure described above, the heat
transfer medium having almost the same temperature is ejected from
each opening 22a of the branch tube 22 since the main tube 21 and
the branch tube 22 prevent the heat transfer medium from contacting
with a heat transfer medium inside the heat-exchange chamber 11.
The branch tube 22 extends from the periphery of the main tube 21
towards the surface of the heat-exchange chamber 11 so that the
opening 22a of the branch tube 22 is closer to the surface of the
heat-exchange chamber 11 than to the periphery of the main tube 21.
As a result, the heat transfer medium in the heat-exchange chamber
11 resists the flow of the heat transfer medium ejected from the
branch tube 22 in such a short distance that the heat transfer
medium hits against the surface of the heat-exchange chamber 11 at
a high flow velocity. Accordingly, the heat transfer medium with
axially uniform temperature distribution flows near the surface of
the heat-exchange chamber 11 rapidly and turbulently. This produces
a high uniform heat exchange capability over the whole rotor 1.
[0058] Further, the branch tube 22 is formed such that it can pass
through the space between the main tube 21 and the hole 12a. In
addition, it is flexible. Accordingly, the branch tube 22 can be
oriented towards the surface of the heat-exchange chamber 11 by
just inserting the main tube 21 into the heat-exchange chamber 11
through the hole 12a even if the heat-exchange chamber 11 has a
complicated-shaped surface. The branch tube 22 can be removed from
the system with the main tube 21 by just removing the main tube 21
through the hole 12a. The ease of removing the main tube 21 and the
branch tube 22 provides the heat exchange system with excellent
cooling capability described above in a simple way and at low cost.
Additionally, a ready-made component for the body of the rotor 1
may be used, if it is available.
[0059] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
opening 22a of the branch tube 22 is preferably disposed adjacent
to the surface of the heat-exchange chamber 11. This provides high
heat-exchange capability to the rotor 1. While a preferred
embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, the
present invention can be modified in other various ways without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0060] That is, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the opening 22a of the branch tube
22 faces the edge of the heat-exchange chamber 11. However, the
present invention is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 6, the
opening 22a may face a point shifted from the edge of the
heat-exchange chamber 11 by inclining the branch tube 22 at a given
angle .theta. relative to a line drawn between the axis of the main
tube 21 and the edge of the heat-exchange chamber 11. In this case,
the heat transfer medium spirally flows in the heat-exchange
chamber 11.
[0061] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
opening 22a of the branch tube 22 is opened without any components.
Either a nozzle 25 with a diameter longer than that of the opening
22a or a nozzle 26 with a diameter shorter than that of the opening
22a may be attached to the opening 22a, as shown in FIG. 7 or 8,
respectively. In this case, a flow direction of the heat transfer
medium ejected from the branch tube 22 can be desirably corrected
by the nozzle 25 or 26. The nozzle 25 with the larger diameter
shown in FIG. 7 enables a temperature distribution, namely, a heat
exchange capability to be more uniform, since the heat transfer
medium divergently flows and hits against a large area of the
surface of the heat-exchange chamber 11. On the other hand, the
nozzle 26 with the smaller diameter shown in FIG. 8 can selectively
enhance the heat exchange capability for a desired area since the
heat transfer medium flows at a higher velocity.
[0062] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
branch tube 22 is composed of a coiled spring whose turns are in
close contact with each other in a free state. However, its
application is not limited thereto. The branch tube 22 may be
composed of a pipe 27 having flexibility and leaktight to a fluid
and a coiled spring 28 wound around the pipe 27 to support it, as
shown in FIG. 9. The pipe 27 of this structure assuredly eliminates
an influence of the heat transfer medium around the branch tube 22.
Additionally, the branch tube 22 may be composed of flexible thin
wires, such as piano wires, in a way that a plurality of the wires
are disposed in parallel to form a wall of the branch tube 22.
[0063] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, the heat exchange system is installed in the rotor 1 of
the kneader. However, its application is not limited thereto. As
shown in FIG. 10, it may be installed in a cylindrical roller 29,
which is used for various processes of raw materials or fabricated
materials such as coating or rolling. The roller 29 may be a bored
roll or a drilled roll. In a structure in which the heat exchange
system is installed in the cylindrical roller 29, the main tube 21
may be separated from the roller 29 so that only the main tube 21
is rotated while the heat-transfer-medium supply pipe 20 is
unmovably secured. In addition, the heat exchange system according
to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied to every
apparatus with a structure in which a heat transfer medium flows
inside a body of the apparatus and exchanges heat with a
heat-exchange object in contact with the outer surface of the
body.
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